Process for the manufacture of a twisted yarn



June 29, 1965 w. NAEGELI 3,

PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF A TWISTED YARN Filed Aug. 2, 1963 WERNER. N fl INVENTOR.

BY 23 KW United States Patent 3,191,375 PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF A TWISTED YARN Werner Naegeli, Winterthur, Switzerland, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Pavena A.G., Basel, Switzerland, a corporation of Switzerland Filed Aug. 2, 1963, Ser. No. 299,550 Claims priority, application Germany, Aug. 16, 1962, M 53,900 7 Claims. (Cl. 57-464) The present invention has reference to an improved process for the manufacture of a yarn star-ting from a staple fiber band or sliver.

The spinning processes which are nowadays conven tional encompass, among other things, in termination of the doubled band or sliver at the outlet of a final drawing frame passage one or more flyer or slubber passages for the manufacture of a twisted condensed sliver or roving, which is then drafted by using a break or preliminary draft and with the application of a twist is wound upon the ring spinning-drafting arrangement in the form of a yarn.

The spinning process via the flyer or slubber has, however, in addition to the limitation with respect to the number of revolutions, the great disadvantage that the roving produced by the flyer brings with it conceivably bad conditions for the drafting process at the ring spinning frame. The rovings in consequenc of their twist exhibit numerous protruding fibers, are susceptible to contamination by fly, easily damageable and also insufiiciently sturdy for processing, which results in defective drafting. The surface inhomogeneities become more pronounced by the guide rod-s, blower installations, condensers and so forth and, as a result thereof render impossible each controlled, uniform continuous drafting. The result thereof is the presence of more or less pronounced, thick and thin locations at the yarn and a corresponding increase of yarn breakage in addition to a general loss in quality.

It has already been proposed to draft the roving twisted at the slubber or roving frame in a single-zone drafting arrangement at the ring spinning frame. However, such attempts have turned out in actual practice to be failures.

Furthermore, to the state of the art there belongs the band or sliver spinning process generally designed as direct spinning, in which in the final stage a very voluminous sliver or band must be drafted in a number of drafting zones arranged behind one another. In so doing, it has proven to be necessary to always again combine or gather together the fiber formaton by means of condensers before each drafting zone. In order to handle the drafting of such a voluminuous band or sliver at sliver spinners very complicated constructed drafting arrangements subject to malfunctions are thus necessary. The thus produced yarn quality also leaves something to be desired.

These disadvantages are not associated with the spinning process of the present invention in that a doubled staple fiber strand or arrangement is subjected to the following method steps:

(a) Drafting the fiber arrangement to a web of fibers disposed in highly parallelized arrangement;

(b) Combining or gathering together the web under the best possible maintenance of the fiber parallelism;

(c) Introducing a soluble fixing or sizing agent after gathering together the web;

(d) Eliminating the superfluous fixing agent and consolidating or grouping together the fiber material into a compact sliver possessing a smooth surface;

(e) At least superficial or partial drying of the sizing and piling or winding up the sliver;

(f) Mechanical breakage or fracture of the fixed or s t ice connection or bond between the individual fibers while abandoning a preliminary draft;

(g) Dratfing the sliver in a single-zone drafting arrangement;

(h) Forming a yarn by imparting twist and winding upon a ring spinning spindle.

According to the inventive process the slubber or flyer which follows the drawing frame is eliminated and replaced by a sliver machine which delivers highly parallelized, non-twisted, smooth, set or fixed slivers or bands which, however, are still easily draftable by a single-zone drafting arrangement on the ring spinning frame. In contradis-tinction to previously known sliver or band spinning processes the sliver exhibit-s a pronounced, small specific volume which first renders possible the decisive advancement, namely, the accomplishment of the drawing or drafting operation in a single-zone drafting arrangement. Due to abandoning of a roving twist there results an increase in production in consequence of the increased efficiency of the above-mentioned sliver machine in comparison with the slubber, the speed of which can be compared with respect to that of a drawing frame.

, In addition it is possible to completely utilize the pres ently available drawing arrangements of the preliminary works capable of delivering highly parallelized slivers, since the sliver cohesion or consistency which is purely conditional upon the fibrous structure loses every importance. The resulting, sturdy, highly parallelized sta le fiber sliver or band of very large breaking or tearing length (up to 1000 meters) permits greater freedom in the construction of the creels of the ring spinning frame. With-in specific drafting or drawing limits, in consequence of the mastery of the problem of floating fibers due to the applied fixing or set-ting without defective drafting and by employing the simplest means, that is, by abandoning the usual preliminary or break draft zone, the sliver can be easily and faultlessly drafted in a single zonedrafting arrangement. The obtained yarns manifest themselves by improved uniformity and the elimination of pronounced thick and thin locations. Also, it is clearly perceivable that fewer neps are present. Furthermore, the extremely limited development of fly in the ring spinning frame and the considerable decrease of yarn breakage or rupture is of considerable importance.

Still further objects and advantages and the entire scope of applicability of the present invention will become ap parent from the detailed description given hereinafter; it should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 schematically illustrates a first phase or stage of the inventive process; and

FIGURE 2 schematically illustrates the end or terminal phase of the inventive process.

Referring now to the drawing it will be appreciated that staple fiber slivers or bands 2, for example formed of cotton, synthetic fibers and blends or mixtures, are removed from a number of cans 1 and combined, in known manner, into a fiber strand or arrangement 3 and drafted in a suitable drafting arrangement 4 into a highly parallelized web 5. After the subsequent direct gathering or grouping together of the web 5 through a condenser 6, this web during passage through the apparatus 7 is soaked or impregnated with a fixing agent which is distributed as homogeneously as possible, said fixing agent will be more fully described hereinafter, and the introduction of which densed. The part by weight of the fixing agent after subtracting the weight of the solvent is approximately 0.5 to 5%.,

The still moist small sliver or band is then further compressed or condensed via a pair of calender rollers 11 into a compact sliver which approximately corresponds to a roving. As a result, such has imparted to it the necessary, desired small specific volume. The consistency of the band or sliver due to the fixing agent which is present, is sumcient to insure that the small band or sliver upon passing through the funnel or trumpet wheel 12 is not impaired in any manner. Upon passing through the funnel or trumpet wheel 12 the band or sliver arrives at a can v13 placed therebeneath. As the band passes into the can 13 the fixing agent has already become inactivated or passified to such a degree that, the layers piled upon one another no longer stick together. Under circumstances it is necessary when operating at high working speeds and with specific types of fixing agents to provide a specific drying zone 14 (shown in phantom lines in FIGURE 1), or to employ suitable, well-known heating means (not shown). Naturally, in place of the illustrated can depot the storage or accumulation of the band or sliver for purposes of transportation could also take place for example, by winding in the form of a cross-wound package. The apparatus for carrying out the previously described first phase of the working process has conveniently been termed a sliver or band machine.

The fixed or set band or sliver possessing a smooth surface and which, in the meantime, has dried and exhibits an extreme breaking length of up to 1000 meters is now fed to the ring spinning frame 115, as best ascertained by reference to FIGURE 2. One is free to choose the erection of the cans 13 insofar as such can be placed without difiiculty at a considerable distance from the ring spinning frame 15, perhaps above the latter at the upper or lower floors, the bands or slivers arriving at the drafting arrangement 17 of the spinning machine through the agency of an opening 16. The drafting occurs at the ring spinning frame itself, upon a single-zone drafting arrangement formed of two pairs of rollers 13 and 19, without the previously conventional preliminary draft or break achieved nowadays upon ring spinning frames provided with a preliminary drafting or break zone but with conventional or higher over-all or total drafts The subsequent spinning by imparting twist and winding upon a ring spindle 20 or a pot spindle takes place in a conventional manner and terminates the second phase or stage of the process.

The requirements which are placed upon the fixing agent are the following:

The connection or bond produced between the fibers should be capable of being easily broken in the drafting zone of the drafting arrangement, without the fiber cohesion resulting from the fixing agent being prematurely, destroyed in consequence of flexures and clamping during infeed of the bands or slivers.

Thus, the water soluble sizing agents previously employed up to the present in weaving mills or textile manufacturing processes generally come into consideration as fixing agents, whereby also an additional sizing with simultaneous reactivation of the already available size particles during the textile manufacturing process, if necessary, does not encounter any difliculty. Well-known to the art as such type of sizing agents are corn starch, rice starch, and potato starch, which during preparation are dissolved in a concentration of 1 to 5% by cooking in water and cooled down to room temperature, or also applied in heated condition. One such sizing agent readily available on the market under the trademark Noredux is produced by Blattmann & Co., of Wadenswil/ Zurich, Switzerland.

The fixing agents on the basis of pure starch give relatively brittle connections or bonds between the individual fibers, thereby resulting in a stiff band or silver, so that during unsuitable conditions of handling, for example with pronounced fiexing, this bond or connection easily breaks or ruptures already prior to drafting. This disadvantage can be countered by the addition of plastieizing agents. In the event that it appears desirable to have a further increase of the elasticity, it is recommended to employ a polyvinyl alcohol as the fixing or sizing agent which, likewise to achieve a condition of use, is mixed in a concentration of approximately 1 to 5% in water. The substance sold on the market under the trademark Vibatex, manufactured by the firm Ciba, of Basel, Switzerland has proven itself to be a suitable'polyvinyl alcohol.

Depending upon the desired elastic properties of the bands or slivers it is also possible to employ as the fixing or sizing agent a solution containing in combination starch and polyvinyl alcohol. Also suitable for use are sodium alginate, casein as well as cellulose xanthogenate. The homogeneous distribution of the solution of the fixing agent or sizing blend in the sliver is additionally facilitated by the addition of a surfactant or Wetting agent, as for example Invadin IFC of the aforementioned Ciba Company, of Basel, Switzerland.

Also, the addition of substances or additives commonly employed in the textile finishing or sizing department such as fungicides or bactericides, as for example Antimucin SR or Antimucin AN, a product of the Sandoz Company, of Basel, Switzerland, in a concentration of 0.01 to 0.02% in the same working operation with the fixing or sizing agent can be carried out, quite apart from the posisibility of dyeing the fibers by the addition of dyes or coloring matter in the fixing agent, more specifically, at a time during processing when the individual fibers can still be easier reached at all sides than with a finished twisted yarn. Furthermore, the addition of antistatic agents can easily and effectively take place at this time.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

Having thus described the present invention what is desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. Process for the production of a spun yarn containing a soluble fixing agent from an already doubled staple fiber silver arrangement, comprising the steps of:

(a) drafting the doubled staple fiber sliver arrangement into a highly parallelized web,

(b) gathering together the web while maintaining the parallelism of the fibers as much as possible,

(c) introducing the dissolved fixing agent into the web after the gathering thereof,

(d) withdrawing superfluous fixing agent and condensing the web into a thin sliver possessing a small specific volume and smooth surface,

(e) accumulating the sliver,

(f) mechanically breaking the set bond between the individual fibers by drafting in a single-zone drafting arrangement under deletion of a preliminary draft and forming a yarn by imparting twist and winding.

2. Process for the production of a spun yarn according to claim 1 wherein the step of accumulating the sliver is carried out by piling thereof.

3. Process for the production of a spun yarn according to claim ll wherein the step of accumulating the sliver is carried out by winding thereof.

4. Process for the production of a spun yarn according to claim 1 including the step of subjecting the sliver to a drying operation after the step of condensing the web into a thin sliver possessing a small specific volume and smooth surface.

5. Process for the production of a spun yarn according to claim 1 including the step of introducing coloring matter at the same time when introducing the dissolved fixing agent into the web.

6. Process for the production of a spun yarn according to claim 1 including the step of simultaneously introducing substances selected from the group comprising wetting agents, fungicides, bactericides, and general textile finishing additives when introducing the dissolved fixing agent into the web.

7. Process for the production of a spun yarn containing a soluble fixing agent from a previously doubled staple fiber sliver arrangement, comprising the steps of:

(a) drafting the doubled staple fiber sliver arrangement into a highly parallelized web,

(b) grouping together the web while maintaining the parallelism of the fiber-s as much as possible,

(c) introducing the dissolved fixing agent into the web after the grouping together thereof,

(d) condensing the web into a sliver,

(e) accumulating the sliver,

(f) breaking the set bond between the individudal fibers by drafting in a drafting arrangement under deletion of a preliminary draft,

(g) and forming a yarn by imparting twist and winding.

References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS 1,174,464 11/58 Great Britain.

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner. 

1. PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A SPUN YARN CONTAINING A SOLUBLE FIXING AGENT FROM AN ALREADY DOUBLED STAPLE FIBER SILVER ARRANGEMENT, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: (A) DRAFTING THE DOUBLED STAPLE FIBER SILVER ARRANGEMENT INTO A HIGHLY PARALLELIZED WEB, (B) GATHERING TOGETHER THE WEB WHILE MAINTAINING THE PARALLELISM OF THE FIBERS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, (C) INTRODUCING THE DISSOLVED FIXING AGENT INTO THE WEB AFTER THE GATHERING THEREOF, (D) WITHDRAWING SUPERFLUOUS FIXING AGENT AND CONDENSING THE WEB INTO A THIN SLIVER POSSESSING A SMALL SPECIFIC VOLUME AND SMOOTH SURFACE, (E) ACCUMULATING THE SLIVER, (F) MECHANICALLY BREAKING THE SET BOND BETWEEN THE INDIVIDUAL FIBERS BY DRAFTING IN A SINGLE-ZONE DRAFTING ARRANGEMENT UNDER DELETION OF A PRELIMINARY DRAFT AND FORMING A YARN BY IMPARTING TWIST AND WINDING. 